ANAESTHESIA – A facelift is generally performed under general anaesthetic, however, sedation and local anaesthetic can be used to numb a specific part of the face.
INCISION – The type of incision made will be based on a combination of your preference and the the surgical technique being used. The options include:
- An incision above the hairline at the temple region, extending down and around the front of your ears and ends behind your earlobe and up into the hairline on the lower scalp area. An incision might be made under your chin to improve the appearance of your neck if the desired look involves a lift of the jaw line.
- A shorter incision that begins in your hairline just above your ear, wraps around the front of your ear, but does not extend all the way into the lower scalp.
- A neck lift incision starts in front of your earlobe and continues around your ear into your lower scalp. A small incision also is made under your chin.
PROCEDURE – The skin is then carefully separated from the underlying facial muscles, after which they are tightly stitched in front and behind the ear, to create a firm sling under the chin and around the jaw area. Slack skin is then precisely and meticulously cut away, and if necessary, unwanted fat is also removed from under the chin area with a minor liposuction technique. The remaining skin is then re-draped over the newly defined features and carefully stitched back into place.
WOUND DRESSING – A special dressing (as per the surgeon’s preference) is used to cover the incision and the face is tightly wrapped in bandages. The bandages may run under the chin, around the ears and/or over the head and aim to provide gentle pressure to minimize swelling and bruising. A drain might be placed under the skin behind one or both ears to drain any excess blood or fluid.
PROCEDURE TIME – Approximately 2 to 4 hours
